Press Releases

The President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, addressed today, 12 November 2023, the gathering of the EOKA Fighters Association titled “Detention Centres Remembrance Day”, at Kokkinotritmithia Detention Centre in Lefkosia, where he laid a wreath.

Afterwards, the President made statements to the media.

In response to a journalist’s question about the issue of abolishing the veto right in view of the European Council Summit, the President stated: “I consider the Berlin meeting important because it essentially initiates substantive discussions on the future of the European Union, its strategic autonomy. For this reason, the President of the European Council chose to form these small groups. There will be only seven leaders in this meeting scheduled for tomorrow.”

President Christodoulides also stated that the Republic of Cyprus will participate in the Summit with targeted positions, with a broader perspective, clearly in favour of the strategic autonomy of the European Union. He added that the most important thing, that will also concern the meeting that will take place, are the ways in which this strategic autonomy can be achieved. “Means and tools are needed to achieve this autonomy. There are ideas, there are thoughts on the part of the Republic of Cyprus, as it is the case with other member states,” he said.

Furthermore, the President stated: “For example we support, together with other member states –  specifically France, Greece – the further integration of the European Union. We need to move forward. And I believe that immediately after the elections for the members of the European Parliament next year, we will start this process that will be about the future of Europe and how it will be able to respond to today’s challenges.”

The President also referred to the changing regional and international environment in which the European Union is called upon to respond, including rivalries that involve not only international political issues but also issues of the economy, the competitiveness of the European Union and its autonomy – to be able to meet challenges on its own. “All these will be discussed tomorrow. I consider it particularly important, I repeat, that we will have the opportunity in a free environment, as it will be without associates, to have this exact discussion,” he added.

Asked to comment on the issue arising from the abolition of the veto and whether this is linked to the next enlargement of the European Union, President Christodoulides stated that there are considerations for the abolition of the need for unanimity in matters of foreign policy, whether there is enlargement or not. “The issue of enlargement is another topic that will be discussed. If this abolition of unanimity leads to the strengthening of the European Union, we, as the Republic of Cyprus, are ready to discuss it,” he added.

The President concluded his statements by saying: “What we need to answer before dealing with this issue – and it is one of the arguments I will develop tomorrow – is how we define the European interest; what is the interest of the European Union? This is where we need to focus.” Additionally, the President stated that the Republic of Cyprus is ready to discuss all the means and the all tools needed to achieve the goals, which, however, need to be clear.

(MS/ASP)